Can Cataracts Cause Balance Problems? 3 Dangerous Consequences of the Eye Disease

Cataracts may be curable with cataract surgery, but they are still a leading cause of blindness worldwide. Many people put off cataract removal until their vision is significantly affected. However, clouded, blurry vision caused by a cataract can impact your quality of life and pose a safety threat. Our ophthalmologists can restore your vision with cataract surgery in Kansas City and St. Joseph and improve your overall eyesight with premium intraocular lens (IOL) implants.

1. Balance Concerns from Poor Vision

A 2019 study found that people with poor vision caused by cataracts experienced mobility and balance issues. These concerns were drastically improved just one month after cataract surgery, enhancing the quality of life and safety profile in a patient pool vulnerable to falls and injury. Cataracts can impact balance in several ways, including dizziness due to visual disturbances, such as double vision. Vision problems make maintaining proper balance difficult and require the eye muscles to work harder, leading to eye strain and headaches.

2. Fall Risks and Cataract Development

Cataracts limit your depth perception, and clouded vision increases the risk of falling around the home or running errands. A 2003 study evaluated fall risk before and after cataract surgery. Researchers suggested that cataract surgery could be a way to reduce the fall risk in elderly patients who have visual impairment from cataracts.

A 2016 study in Ophthalmology and Visual Science found a substantially high rate of falls and subsequent injuries in older adults waiting for cataract surgery, with one in three experiencing a fall. People with a history of falls or who regularly engage in physical activity have a higher fall risk with vision impairment from cataracts, and a delay in cataract surgery increases their likelihood of a tumble and injury.

3. Auto Accidents and Cataracts

It’s often difficult for aging adults to recognize when driving is unsafe, and the slow progression of vision loss caused by cataracts can make this decision even more challenging. A 1999 study evaluated the auto accident risk for drivers over 75 with cataracts and compared it to those without the eye disease. They found that older drivers with cataracts were twice as likely to report driving less often and typically moved slower than the flow of traffic or preferred someone else to drive them to their destination. Drivers with a cataract were 2.5 times more likely to report a history of an at-fault auto accident in the past five years, regardless of their overall health, mental status or age. Cataracts restrict driving and lower road safety.

A 2001 study found that driving difficulties among people with cataracts likely stemmed from decreased contrast in vision. These vision problems increase the risk of an at-fault crash in older drivers with a cataract in one eye or both.

Contact Wiles Eye Center About Cataract Surgery

Fortunately, cataract surgery has a 98 percent success rate, and premium IOLs can improve refractive errors, reducing your dependence on glasses or contact lenses.

If you’re experiencing vision changes or have been diagnosed with a cataract, contact Wiles Eye Center in Kansas City and St. Joseph, Missouri, to schedule your eye exam and discuss cataract surgery.

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